Home page
> About the Commission > Public Service Commissioner > Media release
> Media
‹ Previous page

Media release - National art competition marks 40 year aniversary of 1967 Referendum

The Commissioner

Lynelle Briggs
Lynelle Briggs is the Public Service Commissioner. She has held this position since November 2004.

See also:

Issued 9 March 2007

A national art competition offering generous prizes was launched today by the Australian Public Service Commission in partnership with the National Archives of Australia and the National Museum of Australia.

Drawing Together…an art competition exploring reconciliation and promoting the employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian Public Service invites all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to enter what organisers hope will be one of the most prestigious art events of the year.

The 1967 referendum is largely remembered as a vote to end discrimination against Indigenous Australians and is celebrated as a landmark event in relations between Indigenous and non‑Indigenous Australia . In launching the competition, Australian Public Service Commissioner, Ms Lynelle Briggs, urged Australians to ‘ welcome, nurture and support each other in the true spirit of reconciliation’. She also promoted the Australian Public Service as an employer that ‘welcomes, values and encourages its Indigenous employees to enjoy diverse and rewarding careers’. The competition is also promoting the employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees in the Australian Public Service.

The closing date for entries is Friday 8 June 2007, with the National Archives of Australia publicly exhibiting all short-listed entries from Monday 2 July 2007.

The Director-General of the National Archives of Australia, Mr Ross Gibbs PSM, expressed his pleasure at being one of the partners in Drawing Together… stating that the ‘National Archives is the first place people turn when they’re looking for original documents on the referendum which gained a record YES vote’.

An awards night will be held on Wednesday 11 July 2007 at the National Museum of Australia. A/g Director, Suzy Nethercott-Watson, is looking forward to the diverse range of entries emerging from the competition with high expectations that they will ‘be broad in their styles and subject matter, will reflect contemporary issues, values, cultures and histories that lie at the heart of Australian society today’.

Further information on the Drawing Together… can be found online at: http://www.apsc.gov.au/drawingtogether, emailing drawingtogether@communicationlink.com.au or calling (02) 6280 8122.

Media Contact:

Clare Page
Better Practice Group
Australian Public Service Commission
(02) 6202 3705 / 0438 806 242

Start of page